Clicks are speech sounds used in many African languages, particularly in the Khoisan family of languages. They are produced by raising the back of the tongue to make contact with the palate and simultaneously closing the lips or touching the teeth or alveolar ridge with the tip and sides of the tongue. The only non-African language known to use clicks as regular speech sounds is Damin, spoken by certain Aboriginal Australians. What click sound is used in English to express disapproval or pity?More...

Ordained in 1951, the German-born Ratzinger came to be regarded as the most influential person in the Catholic hierarchy after the pope through his high-profile positions within the church and his uncompromising stance on Catholic teachings. He presided over the funeral of Pope John Paul II as dean of the College of Cardinals and, after just two days and four ballots, was elected pope in one of the fastest papal elections in a century. Why did he pray not to be elected during the papal conclave?More...

Ness was 26 years old when he was hired as a special agent of the US Department of Justice to head its Chicago Prohibition bureau, with the express purpose of breaking up the bootlegging network of Al Capone. He formed a nine-man team of unbribable officers known as "the Untouchables." Numerous attempts were made on his life, and one of his friends was killed, but he eventually helped take down Capone, who was convicted on tax evasion charges. What did Ness do after Prohibition ended?More...

Quotation of the Day

God's creature is one. He makes man, not men. His true creature is unitary and infinite, revealing himself, indeed, in every finite form, but compromised by none.

Ceres was the ancient Roman goddess of grain and of harvests, often identified with the Greek goddess Demeter. The festival known as Cerealia was observed at various locations only by Roman matrons, who, for several days preceding the festival, abstained from wine and other carnal pleasures. People who were in mourning were not allowed to appear at the celebration. For this reason, the Cerealia was not observed after the Battle of Cannae, when 50,000 Roman troops were killed by Hannibal.More...

New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase 1, or NDM 1, is a gene that makes bacteria highly resistant to nearly all known antibiotics. It first emerged in India three years ago and has since spread around the globe, appearing in countries like the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and Sweden. Now, researchers say, bacteria in New Delhi water supplies are carrying the gene. With some 14 million people currently living in Delhi, this poses a very real threat. Experts believe that as many as half a million area residents may already be carrying bacteria with the superbug gene in their digestive tracts.More...

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